IDEMIA, the provider in trusted identities for an increasingly digital world, announced its partnership with FlexiGroup, Australia’s market supplier in Point of Sale consumer and commercial finance to launch Australia’s first MOTION CODE credit card.

Developed by IDEMIA (formerly known as OT-Morpho), the MOTION CODE credit card is a high-tech payment card with a dynamic security code (CVV2) that automatically changes hourly. Instead of a static security code printed on the back of a bank card, the MOTION CODE CVV2 is displayed on an e-paper “mini-screen”.

The security code automatically refreshes to a random security code every hour. This solution has no impact on the cardholder journey for safer online transactions: if compromised, this dynamic data becomes rapidly unusable.

As online shopping becomes increasingly popular, the cases of online fraud have escalated with online fraud in Australia rampant at $417 m(€354.07 m) last year and growing 15% per year, according to the Australian Payments Network. FlexiGroup will be the first company to launch MOTION CODE credit cards in Australia in the first half of 2018.

“The security of our customers’ payment details is tremendously important to us and the levels of security are constantly evolving with the increasing use of online payments. The addition of this dynamic security feature means FlexiGroup will be able to offer customers advanced safeguarding when making online purchases.”

“We continually strive to deliver innovative and tailored financial solutions for our customers and we are excited to partner with IDEMIA to be the first to bring MOTION CODE technology to Australians”, said Symon Brewis-Weston, CEO of FlexiGroup.

“We are thrilled about this exclusive launch of MOTION CODE here as it is the first product of its kind in Australia and has the potential to significantly impact the online payments industry by reducing fraud. But more importantly, MOTION CODE can create better customer experience for shoppers as well as provide a strong sense of comfort and security for buyers to go online”, said Mark Garvie, Asia Pacific managing director for Financial Institutions activities at IDEMIA. FlexiGroup is also partnering with Mastercard to bring this new MOTION CODE card to market.

“Safety and security is one of Mastercard’s global priorities, so we’re incredibly excited to partner with FlexiGroup to enable the launch of this Australian-first technology. We believe this technology will help shape the future of fraud prevention in Australia to make payments more secure, convenient and reliable for both businesses and consumers”, said Matt Barr, senior vice president: Core, Digital and New Payment Flows.

FlexiGroup will announce further details on a new product offering featuring MOTION CODE technology closer to launch in 2018.

With more than 174 million Americans shopping over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, it’s looking to be a busy holiday season for retailers this year. As shoppers continue hunting for the perfect gift over the next couple weeks, it’s important to remember that cyber criminals will likely be on the hunt as well. How prepared are retailers to deal with an attack?

In an effort to answer that question, Tripwire surveyed IT security professionals working in retail organisations about their experiences and attitudes towards factors affecting IT security. The results found that a large majority are not fully prepared for data breaches this holiday season.

Of the respondents, only 28% of respondents said they have a fully tested plan in place in the event of a security breach. 21% said their organisation doesn’t have a plan at all, and the same proportion of respondents said they didn’t have the means to notify customers of a data breach within 72 hours, a requirement specified by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

“Considering the amount of high-profile data breaches that have occurred recently, plus the continued discussion around GDPR, it is surprising and concerning that many retailers do not have a tested plan in the event of a security breach,” said Tim Erlin, vice president of product management and strategy at Tripwire. “It’s encouraging that most respondents think they can meet the 72-hour notification window as set out in the upcoming GDPR, but if they haven’t tested their plans, I don’t know how confident they should be in that assumption.”

Only a small minority of the retail industry felt fully secure in their incident response capabilities. 23% of respondents said they were “fully prepared” to absorb potential financial penalties. Even fewer professionals (15%) said they were fully prepared to manage customer and press communications following an incident.

Not all the survey’s findings were discouraging, however. The results did provide some hope that the industry is moving in the right direction. More than half of respondents (57%) said that their organisation’s ability to detect and respond to a security breach has improved in the past year and a half. With the holiday season in full swing, organisations should make sure they have proper security safeguards in place.

“It’s really critical that organisations have a good view of what’s on their network at all times, that they harden their systems with secure configuration and vulnerability management, and that they are able to continuously monitor for change and are alerted to any drift outside the established security and compliance policies,” said Erlin.

There are a number of effective and established security control frameworks available to guide organisations, such as the CIS Critical Security Controls. Implementing even the most basic security controls can go a long way in improving an organisation’s security posture.

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary this December and have found ourselves reflecting over these last two wonderful decades. One of the most important organizational objectives we have here at ARIN is our community outreach efforts. We make it a priority to reach out to you, our community, to provide the tools and advice you need when it comes to Internet number resources. We have hosted and attended an incredible number of events over the years, and thought it would be fun to look back and share where we’ve been and what we’ve accomplished with our community.

What kind of outreach do we do?

Each year, we host or attend a number of different events. Twice annually we hold our Public Policy and Members Meetings in the second and fourth quarters in various locations throughout our region. These meetings provide an opportunity for the entire Internet community to engage in policy discussions, network with colleagues, and attend workshops and tutorials. Everyone with an interest in Internet number resources is welcome to attend the Public Policy & Members Meetings and registration is free!

We also host many ARIN on the Road events around our region throughout the year. These free events provide local communities with the latest news from ARIN, covering everything from requesting IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs) to the status of IPv6 adoption, to current policy discussions, and updates about our technical services. Did you know that you can request an ARIN on the Road in your city, town, or metro area? I encourage you to send an email to info@arin.net if you believe your local Internet community would be interested in participating.

While we do discuss IPv6 at ARIN on the Road, that is not the only way we continue to spread the word in support of IPv6 deployment. Our message has evolved since we started actively promoting IPv6 in 2007, when we set up our TeamARIN site and began exhibiting at major industry shows. Today we exhibit at fewer tradeshows, but we do send speakers to many events across a wide range of industries, where we encourage organizations to prepare for the future by enabling IPv6 on their websites.

Additionally, members of our team attend community events around the world. Whether it be other RIR meetings, Internet Governance events, or partners such as NANOG or CARIBNOG, we believe it’s important to show our support to the wider Internet community. For a full list of events we host or attend, check out our events page.

Where was our first meeting?

Our first members meeting took place in Chantilly, Virginia on 20 March 1998. Since then, we’ve held a total of 40 meetings over the last 20 years!

Where was our first AOTR?

Our first ARIN on the Road event was held in Phoenix, Arizona on 17 August 2010. Since then we have held an additional 46 AOTR events and counting!

How can you get involved?

Phew! As you can see, we’ve done a lot over the last 20 years, but we’ve only just begun. We plan to continue expanding our outreach efforts around our region, including a continued focus on the Caribbean, and it is all possible thanks to our wonderful community.

There are so many ways you can continue to get involved with ARIN, including:

Subscribe to our mailing lists to discuss Internet number resource policy development and keep up with ARIN services and activities

Attend an ARIN meeting – We have great remote participation capabilities if needed

Don’t forget you can apply for a fellowship! We are accepting fellowship applications to ARIN 41 in Miami 15-18 April 2018

Vodafone and Huawei have completed a trial on a full end-to-end (E2E) network of a technique to improve the range of high frequency spectrum that can in future be used to deliver 5G to its customers. Italy’s Ministry for Economic Development has made frequencies available to Vodafone so that it can trial pre-standard 5G in Milan. An E2E test network has been built for that purpose.

High frequency bands can connect many users at the same time, but broadcast over a more limited distance than lower frequencies. However, Vodafone, working with Huawei, has pioneered a new approach to improve the coverage range of that high frequency spectrum.

Instead of using a single frequency band to communicate between a smartphone and the network, the two telecoms companies tested using different frequency bands for downlink and uplink transmissions.

The downlink is used to receive data from the network – like news read on a smartphone – and the uplink is used to send data through the network – like emails or posts on social media.

The trials compared two scenarios using Vodafone’s 5G test network sending Gigabits of data. In scenario one, the same high frequency band was used for both the downlink and uplink. In scenario two, a high frequency band was used for the downlink, while a low frequency band was used for the uplink.

This capability — known technically as uplink & downlink decoupling — is currently being standardised by 3GPP, a leading organisation through which industry-wide standards are agreed for the implementation of new telecoms technology.

Vodafone measured up to a 10 decibel coverage range improvement in the uplink when also utilising the low band. That means that using the technique, customers would get a stronger signal even in areas where 5G coverage is limited.

Francisco Martin, head of Radio Product for Vodafone Group, said: “This test of pre-standard 5G uplink and downlink decoupling will help us to deploy the technology efficiently to support our customers as soon as we launch services.”

Yang Chaobin, president of Huawei 5G product line, said: “With the acceleration of the 3GPP 5G standard, the first phase of 3GPP Release 15 is expected to be completed by the end of this year, and it will support eMBB application that will bring significant improvement to user experience and even greater enhancement to capacity.

Huawei and Vodafone have successfully completed the verification of the uplink and downlink decoupling solution based on the end-to-end 5G network, including RAN, core network and terminals. Huawei will jointly work with industry partners and make 5G a global success.”

Vodafone expects to launch 5G services in 2020, in markets where it has appropriate spectrum, once the standard is agreed by 3GPP and compatible telecoms equipment and devices are available.

At Smart City Expo World Congress, the international event on smart cities, Guangdong Rongwen Energy Technology Group (Rongwen) and Silver Spring Networks, Inc. announced their selection to connect smart LED street lights in Guangzhou, China.

Through its go-to-market partnership with Rongwen, one of the largest smart LED street light providers and operators in China, Silver Spring is planning to network more than 30,000 LED street lights in Guangzhou. According to Rongwen, its efficient and patented LED street lights and outdoor lighting controls, combined with Silver Spring’s StreetLight.

Vision (SLV) Central Management System (CMS), will increase the city’s energy savings by more than 70%. The project is China’s first smart city project using Silver Spring’s secure, reliable, IPv6 platform and Wi- SUN® standards-based mesh technology, built on the IEEE 802.15.4g specification.

Guangzhou, which is China’s third largest economic hub and a major foreign trade port, has committed to reducing its carbon emissions up to 45% by the end of the decade.

“Rongwen is using Silver Spring’s pioneering smart city platform to provide seamless IoT connectivity to more efficiently operate existing city-wide resources to achieve immediate cost savings and speed time to value for smart city initiatives,” said Zhixiong Lee, general manager of Rongwen.

“As one of the early movers in smart street lighting system integration, Rongwen is the first company in China that adapts and deploys internationally recognised smart city technologies. We believe that the scalability and sustainability of this system will allow cities such as Guangzhou to grow their network to millions of devices in the future.”

“Guangzhou is an example of a major hub deploying an IoT network to drive sustainability, create resource efficiency and build a more livable city, which in turn draws in new investments.

Jeff Ross

We are thrilled to connect smart city devices in our first project in China, as Rongwen deploys our standards-based platform to connect street lights and establish a foundation for additional smart city services for the Guangzhou Development Zone,” said Jeff Ross, VP of Channels, Silver Spring Networks. “By working with our partners, we continue to evolve our standards-based platform’s capabilities, in an effort to address our cities’ biggest challenges, such as traffic congestion, pollution and public safety.”

Accelerating delivery of proven smart city technology with Rongwen D-ONE

Further accelerate the delivery of Silver Spring’s IPv6 platform and solution to the growing smart city industry, today Rongwen and Silver Spring also announced the availability of the Rongwen D-ONE Wireless Outdoor Lighting Controller. The D-ONE integrates Silver Spring’s network interface cards (NICs) into Rongwen’s outdoor lighting controller to help monitor and control the brightness of the lights based on pedestrian and vehicular traffic, time of day and weather.

The D-ONE utilises a standardised 7-Pin NEMA Socket and collects a variety of energy usage information including voltage, current, lamp burning hours, and temperature. The D-ONE also integrates with SLV for seamless configuration, monitoring and real-time control.

Matsui MFG. Co., Ltd., NTT DOCOMO, INC. and NTT DOCOMO ASIA Pte. Ltd. announced that they will launch a proof-of-concept demonstration of an IoT platform for plastic-molding operations using a mold-temperature controller equipped with sensors and connected to a mobile communications network, enabling production data to be sent to a cloud server for real-time processing. Beginning November 15, the demonstration will help to confirm system accuracy and related issues for an envisioned commercial solution, expected to be the world’s first of its kind, for highly efficient plastic molding applications in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing industries for automobiles, electrical appliances and other products.

The solution will incorporate the use of a mobile-connected mold-temperature controller, built specially for the demonstration, at a plastic molding factory in Indonesia.

The controller collects data via sensors and then communicates the data via a mobile network for real-time visualisation and analysis. IoT-dedicated software will connect the sensors to a public cloud via a mobile network, or potentially a low-power wireless access (LWPA) system. Manufacturers are expected to use the platform to reduce machine downtime due to various malfunctions, prevent production defects and improve production processes.

Through the demonstration, the three partners will determine the possibilities of acquiring and visualising data suitable for extra-efficient plastic-molding production. In the future, machine learning and artificial intelligence are expected to be incorporated in the platform for increasingly efficient production operations.

In preparation for an envisioned commercial launch, Matsui will continue to enhance its mold-temperature controller, sensors and related know-how, DOCOMO will develop practical IoT services for Southeast Asian industries and DOCOMO ASIA will continue to enhance the IoT-solution platform for deployment in Southeast Asia.

The demand for plastics in Southeast Asia’s manufacturing industry is expected to show robust growth due to factors including regional population growth, expanding operations by Japanese automotive, electric, and other manufacturers, and ongoing efforts to reduce product weights and production costs.

Hazelcast, the open source in-memory data grid (IMDG) with tens of thousands of installed clusters and over 39 million server starts per month, announced the 0.5 release of Hazelcast Jet – an application embeddable, distributed computing platform for fast processing of big data sets.

New functionality in Hazelcast Jet 0.5 includes the Pipeline API for general purpose programming of batch and stream processing, and fault tolerance using snapshotting with the integrated Hazelcast IMDG.

The overall focus of the latest release is to increase developer productivity via an extremely simple and intuitive API. Jet is a single library with no dependencies which is therefore easily embedded and deployed, removing the need for multiple systems. Typical application use cases include online trades, sensor updates in IoT architectures, real-time fraud detection, system log events, in-store e-commerce systems and social media platforms.

The Pipeline API is the primary programming interface of Hazelcast Jet for batch and stream processing, making it more appealing to a wider Java audience. This is a major enhancement to the Hazelcast Jet low-level Core API which uses directed acyclic graphs (DAG) to model data flow – allowing detailed DAG assembly of processing jobs.

The new Pipeline API is easier to use and provides developers with tools to compose batch computations from building blocks such as filters, aggregators and joiners. The Java 8 Stream API is also available in Hazelcast Jet 0.5, a well-known and popular API in the Java community which supports functional-style operations on streams of elements. The key point is that ANY Java developer will find the new Pipeline API familiar and productive.

Greg Luck, CEO of Hazelcast, said: “Since its first release Jet has put the Fast in Fast Big Data with performance up to 15 times faster than Spark and Flink. In this release we have been working on bringing Hazelcast’s legendary programming simplicity to Jet, which we think we have now achieved with the Pipeline API. Programmers, start your Jet engines.”

Also new is fault tolerance using distributed in-memory snapshots – in Hazelcast Jet 0.5 snapshots are distributed across the cluster and held in multiple replicas to provide redundancy. Jet is now able to tolerate multiple faults such as node failure, network partition or job execution failure. Snapshots are periodically created and backed up.

If there is a node failure Jet uses the latest state snapshot and automatically restarts all jobs that contain the failed node as a job participant. No additional infrastructure, such as distributed file system or external snapshot storage, is necessary to ensure Hazelcast Jet is fault tolerant out of the box.

With this release, Jet is fully integrated with Hazelcast IMDG for sources, sinks and enrichment. It also has streaming as well as batch integrations. Jet benefits from being integrated with Hazelcast IMDG, accessing an elastic, in-memory storage capability. Using data already held in IMDG versus external sources gives a 5 times performance enhancement. We expect our millions of IMDG users to start leveraging Jet’s capabilities to process the data they already hold in IMDG.

When I first heard about the Connect Council, I was intrigued. I knew Rudina Seseri and Glasswing Ventures, and knew they didn’t have a reputation for doing things half way. When I heard about the mission of the Connect Council and the people involved, I was more than intrigued, I was impressed. What follows is a quick Q&A with Rudina about the council.

What is the Connect Council?

It is the first of three advisory councils to support and extend Glasswing Ventures’ investment strategy. Collectively, these councils bring together 40 renowned entrepreneurs and technologists, AI visionaries, and world-leading executives to exclusively advise and support the firm and its portfolio companies. The Connect Council is a critical part of the Glasswing Ventures’ DNA, extending our strength in providing AI expertise and advice exponentially amplifying the firm’s and our portfolio companies’ competitive edge. The Connect Council is comprised of two working groups: the AI & Academic Group, and the Business Leadership Group. Today, we are announcing the AI & Academic Group.

Who is on it?

A group of extraordinary individuals who have been lending their support to us since the founding of Glasswing over 18 months ago – we are grateful to them and very happy to announce that the members of the Glasswing’s Connect Council – the AI & Academic Group include:

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, Professor at MIT and Oxford University and winner of the ACM A.M. Turing Prize

Dr. Brad Berens, Chief ‫Strategy Officer at the Center for the Digital Future at USC Annenberg and Principal at Big Digital Idea Consulting

Dr. Manuela Veloso, Herbert A. Simon University Professor and Head of Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Peter Weinstock, Executive Director and Anesthesia Endowed Chair of the Boston Children’s Hospital Simulator Program and Associate Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School

Why did you start it?

We started the Councils as we know that they can bring tremendous scale to the firm as we help harness the positive potential of AI across industries and markets. Because the Connect Council is a collaborative and vibrant body composed of the most influential thought leaders and innovators in academia and AI technology today — our team, our founders and portfolio companies, gain access to a brilliant collective of luminaries at the forefront of AI and innovation, who are committed to fueling its success and growth. These visionaries have extensive experience across AI, academia, startups and Fortune 500 companies. They are the catalysts in extending our reach, supporting our portfolio companies and advising us, and helping Glasswing become a cornerstone of the AI ecosystem. They also play a pivotal role in helping bring AI to its full potential in the broader ecosystem and society at large.

What do you hope to accomplish with it?

Our council members are a resource for candid views and discussions about new technology trends, opportunities and talent in AI – they aren’t just big names and faces on a website. We won’t agree all of the time — and that’s exactly what we hope for. In fact, it’s beautiful when we brainstorm together, as that is when the best outcomes emerge. Our portfolio startups, and many more in the ecosystem, will be able to benefit first-hand from these brainstorms and the brilliance and experience of our advisors.

We have a symbiotic relationship with our advisory council members. They enhance the value we add to founders and companies, well beyond smart capital. At the same time, through their affiliation with Glasswing, they are part of a platform that is developing and shaping the next generation of AI leaders and technology companies. It is because of this mutually beneficial dynamic that our advisors work with us on an exclusive basis.

How will you know if it is working? Any metrics you are tracking?

Our Connect Council members are catalysts in extending our reach, supporting our portfolio companies and advising us, and helping Glasswing become a cornerstone of the AI ecosystem. They also play a pivotal role in helping bring AI to its full potential in the broader ecosystem and society at large. Being as exclusive and engaged as they are, their inbounds — whether it is bringing in a unique deal flow or helping with diligence or key talent are part of the tremendous value they bring to us.

Is AI really as big as the hype suggests?

Artificial Intelligence has been at the forefront of tech innovation for some time, but 2017 has been the year in which it has truly taken center stage. In a world of pervasive connectivity, AI is essential to harnessing the power of data. Companies have to create an AI advantage to survive — Google, Facebook, Amazon and countless startups know this and are betting their businesses on it – in fact, startups are becoming major value creators.

AI is already changing many aspects of our daily lives both at home and at work. However, this is just the start. AI is steadily and pervasively redefining our relationship with technology, enhancing human capacity and, fundamentally, how we live. It is big – and it’s going to be bigger than we imagined it.

Rudina Seseri is founder and managing partner at Glasswing Ventures. With over 15 years of investing and transactional experience, Rudina has led technology investments and acquisitions in startup companies in the fields of robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), SaaS marketing technologies and digital media. Rudina’s portfolio investments include Talla, Celtra, CrowdTwist, Jibo and SocialFlow. Rudina has been appointed by the Dean of the Harvard Business School (HBS) for a fourth consecutive year to serve as Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Business School and as Executive-In-Residence for Harvard University’s innovation-Lab. She is also a Member of the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College. Rudina also serves as Advisor for L’Oreal USA Women in Digital, as Director on the Board of the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange (MITX) and on the Board of Overseers for Boston Children’s Hospital. She has been named a 2017 Boston Business Journal Power 50: Newsmaker, a 2014 Women to Watch honoree by Mass High Tech and a 2011 Boston Business Journal 40-under-40 honoree for her professional accomplishments and community involvement. She graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Economics and International Relations and with an MBA from the Harvard Business School (HBS). She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.

When I first heard about the Connect Council, I was intrigued. I knew Rudina Seseri and Glasswing Ventures, and knew they didn’t have a reputation for doing things half way. When I heard about the mission of the Connect Council and the people involved, I was more than intrigued, I was impressed. What follows is a quick Q&A with Rudina about the council.

What is the Connect Council?

It is the first of three advisory councils to support and extend Glasswing Ventures’ investment strategy. Collectively, these councils bring together 40 renowned entrepreneurs and technologists, AI visionaries, and world-leading executives to exclusively advise and support the firm and its portfolio companies. The Connect Council is a critical part of the Glasswing Ventures’ DNA, extending our strength in providing AI expertise and advice exponentially amplifying the firm’s and our portfolio companies’ competitive edge. The Connect Council is comprised of two working groups: the AI & Academic Group, and the Business Leadership Group. Today, we are announcing the AI & Academic Group.

Who is on it?

A group of extraordinary individuals who have been lending their support to us since the founding of Glasswing over 18 months ago – we are grateful to them and very happy to announce that the members of the Glasswing’s Connect Council – the AI & Academic Group include:

Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web, Professor at MIT and Oxford University and winner of the ACM A.M. Turing Prize

Dr. Brad Berens, Chief ‫Strategy Officer at the Center for the Digital Future at USC Annenberg and Principal at Big Digital Idea Consulting

Dr. Manuela Veloso, Herbert A. Simon University Professor and Head of Machine Learning Department at Carnegie Mellon University

Dr. Peter Weinstock, Executive Director and Anesthesia Endowed Chair of the Boston Children’s Hospital Simulator Program and Associate Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School

Why did you start it?

We started the Councils as we know that they can bring tremendous scale to the firm as we help harness the positive potential of AI across industries and markets. Because the Connect Council is a collaborative and vibrant body composed of the most influential thought leaders and innovators in academia and AI technology today — our team, our founders and portfolio companies, gain access to a brilliant collective of luminaries at the forefront of AI and innovation, who are committed to fueling its success and growth. These visionaries have extensive experience across AI, academia, startups and Fortune 500 companies. They are the catalysts in extending our reach, supporting our portfolio companies and advising us, and helping Glasswing become a cornerstone of the AI ecosystem. They also play a pivotal role in helping bring AI to its full potential in the broader ecosystem and society at large.

What do you hope to accomplish with it?

Our council members are a resource for candid views and discussions about new technology trends, opportunities and talent in AI – they aren’t just big names and faces on a website. We won’t agree all of the time — and that’s exactly what we hope for. In fact, it’s beautiful when we brainstorm together, as that is when the best outcomes emerge. Our portfolio startups, and many more in the ecosystem, will be able to benefit first-hand from these brainstorms and the brilliance and experience of our advisors.

We have a symbiotic relationship with our advisory council members. They enhance the value we add to founders and companies, well beyond smart capital. At the same time, through their affiliation with Glasswing, they are part of a platform that is developing and shaping the next generation of AI leaders and technology companies. It is because of this mutually beneficial dynamic that our advisors work with us on an exclusive basis.

How will you know if it is working? Any metrics you are tracking?

Our Connect Council members are catalysts in extending our reach, supporting our portfolio companies and advising us, and helping Glasswing become a cornerstone of the AI ecosystem. They also play a pivotal role in helping bring AI to its full potential in the broader ecosystem and society at large. Being as exclusive and engaged as they are, their inbounds — whether it is bringing in a unique deal flow or helping with diligence or key talent are part of the tremendous value they bring to us.

Is AI really as big as the hype suggests?

Artificial Intelligence has been at the forefront of tech innovation for some time, but 2017 has been the year in which it has truly taken center stage. In a world of pervasive connectivity, AI is essential to harnessing the power of data. Companies have to create an AI advantage to survive — Google, Facebook, Amazon and countless startups know this and are betting their businesses on it – in fact, startups are becoming major value creators.

AI is already changing many aspects of our daily lives both at home and at work. However, this is just the start. AI is steadily and pervasively redefining our relationship with technology, enhancing human capacity and, fundamentally, how we live. It is big – and it’s going to be bigger than we imagined it.

Rudina Seseri is founder and managing partner at Glasswing Ventures. With over 15 years of investing and transactional experience, Rudina has led technology investments and acquisitions in startup companies in the fields of robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), SaaS marketing technologies and digital media. Rudina’s portfolio investments include Talla, Celtra, CrowdTwist, Jibo and SocialFlow. Rudina has been appointed by the Dean of the Harvard Business School (HBS) for a fourth consecutive year to serve as Entrepreneur-In-Residence for the Business School and as Executive-In-Residence for Harvard University’s innovation-Lab. She is also a Member of the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College. Rudina also serves as Advisor for L’Oreal USA Women in Digital, as Director on the Board of the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange (MITX) and on the Board of Overseers for Boston Children’s Hospital. She has been named a 2017 Boston Business Journal Power 50: Newsmaker, a 2014 Women to Watch honoree by Mass High Tech and a 2011 Boston Business Journal 40-under-40 honoree for her professional accomplishments and community involvement. She graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College with a BA in Economics and International Relations and with an MBA from the Harvard Business School (HBS). She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Epsilon honor societies.

Vodafone entered the Internet of Things (IoT) consumer market with the launch of “V by Vodafone” enabling consumers to connect millions of home and leisure electronics products to the Group’s dedicated global IoT network – the largest of its kind in the world.

IoT technologies bring Internet-connected network intelligence to a wide range of devices at work, home and on the move. Analyst estimates suggest that by 2020 there will be more than 370 million consumer electronics and smart home devices capable of connection to mobile IoT networks in the countries in which Vodafone operates, up from around 50 million today.

“V by Vodafone” is a new, simple system for consumers to connect and manage IoT devices and a product range that includes a connected car dongle, a 4G security camera, a pet location and activity tracker and a bag location tracker.

Vodafone’s consumer IoT strategy will build upon the company’s extensive track record in developing and implementing enterprise IoT technologies. The Group is the mobile world leader in IoT, with

59 million IoT connections and an international network and services platform for a wide range of business-critical applications.

The new, simple way for consumers to connect IoT devices

“V by Vodafone” comprises:

the dedicated IoT “V-Sim by Vodafone”. The Sim card will be shipped as standard with IoT-enabled consumer electronics products sold by Vodafone from today. “V-Sim by Vodafone” will be also offered by third-party retailers next year;
the “V by Vodafone” smartphone app, providing customers with a single and intuitive overview of all IoT-enabled products registered to their account. Setting up each product is simple: customers scan a QR code on the product packaging to register it and add the monthly fee to their existing Vodafone mobile account;
automatic straight-out-of-the-box connection to the international Vodafone IoT network in any of 32 countries. Customers benefit from a straightforward means of managing all of their connected devices from a single interface wherever they are, and wherever they travel. Unlike Wi-Fi-enabled devices, “V by Vodafone” products are constantly connected wherever there is a mobile signal;
a single, affordable fixed monthly price plan for each product connected with a “V-Sim by Vodafone”, making it easy for consumers to use multiple IoT-enabled products; and
during 2018, Vodafone will launch a new online product marketplace open to IoT developers that will greatly extend the product choice for customers.

The “V by Vodafone” concept and product range were developed with insights from comprehensive research involving more than 15,000 consumers in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.

Launch products

Vodafone has focused on four product categories at launch. Other categories will follow in 2018.

The products will be available for purchase by current Vodafone mobile customers from today in selected Vodafone stores in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. They can also be purchased online at v.vodafone.com.

V-Auto by Vodafone uses the same IoT technologies developed by Vodafone for some of the world’s most advanced connected cars. The “plug and drive” dongle can be added to most vehicles on European roads manufactured since 2002. The “V-Auto by Vodafone” dongle is fitted to […]